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Reviews For: Autek WM-1

Category: SWR & Wattmeters & Dummy Loads

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Review Summary For : Autek WM-1
Reviews: 79MSRP: 132.95
Description:
SWR/power meter with remote RF head.
Product is not in production
More Info:
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00794.2
KC4LAH Rating: 2001-03-27
Poor Quality Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received my watt meter quickly, it was
well packaged, and in good condition. After
installing it, the peak-reading part of the
meter did not function. I found an electrolytic
cap. on my desk where I had opened the package
from Autek. Yes, you got it, the cap had come
lose from the board! After calling Autek to
check the polarity(the schematic is a secret)
and confirming that I would not void the warr-
anty...hoho...I repaired the meter. I found
that both electrolytics had been poorly soldered.
The peak function now worked fine, but on 160
meters, the SWR reading are way off and not so
bad on other bands. When I called Autek about the
SWR problem, the fellow became very defensive
and was not very concerned. He insisted I pay
to ship it back...that they would check it and
if there was not a problem with the meter (which
he was already convinced to be the case) they
would charge me for checking it. Please remember,
the caps. that were not soldered properly, in
his mind had no bearing on the performance of the
meter! The fit and finish were ok for a home-brew
project, which is about what you are getting.
N3ZKP Rating: 2000-09-19
Poor Quality Control and Customer Service Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I ordered a WM-1 and it came in one week. That's the good news!

The bad news is there was only one nut holding one meter in the case and the other meter fell out when I picked it up. There were numerous other fit-and-finish items that were unsatisfactory.

After several unsatisfactory emails and a refusal by Autek to pay for the return shipping for an obviously unusable unit, I shipped it back and cancelled the order.

This is a company with some real quality control and customer service problems. They were absolutely not interested in satisfying this customer.

W3HD Rating: 2000-08-21
ok Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have the WM1 for years it is O.K. I like my nye viking RF POWER MONTOR much much beter.
KE4WY Rating: 2000-05-31
Meter Fine-Cabinet not Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had the original WM-1 black face for 7 or 8 years and found it to be a very accurate SWR/WATTMETER. The workmanship was fine. Only complaint no lighted meters. I sold it and got the
newer WM-1 with the lighted meters and found it also had a very accurate SWR/WATTMETER compared to my digital Bird; However my opinion of the workmanship of the cabinet was very poor, not up to par with the earlier unit. For this reason I sent it back to Autek and have purchased something else.
K4SUS Rating: 2000-03-29
Very nice SWR /PEP Watt Meter for Price Time Owned: unknown months.
I've been using the Autek SWR/PEP Watt meter for about a month now running at various power levels and different modes. I am very satisfied and plan to purchase a 2 nd. one and also another as a gift for my daughter, (also a Ham). I would never part with my Bird 43P and all the slugs but this Autek Meter is really better for in-door Ham shack use and is very accurate. 73 Tom K4SUS
FORMER_WA_4RX_ROB Rating: 1999-11-11
Very reliable. Time Owned: unknown months.
Nice look to it--large meter display is a plus--switchable wattage selection is nice--
Portable unit. Don't be fooled by the ad, though..the small box to the side of the meter is seperatable from the unit. It looks like it's connected in the ad.

This makes it convenient to set up.

I even accidentally hooked up the wrong power cube to it one time--it smoked a little but still works like a charm.. thank goodness it was too much more than the normal amperage!

K4RO Rating: 1999-10-02
Reliable analog meter Time Owned: unknown months.
I use two of these meters in my station, and I like them a lot. The only thing they are lacking is backlighting, which can be added fairly easily. I bought my WM-1's before the new digital units became available. For the price, they do the job well. Recommended if you still like the needle-and-scale analog meter movements, and have no need to measure over 2000 watts RF output.
AC5AA Rating: 1999-09-24
Excellent power/SWR meter Time Owned: unknown months.
I echo K0RS's rating of the WM-1. Mine shows a tendency on the 200w range to read as much as 22-25% high, and when running QSK CW, it "pulses" to full scale when in peak mode. Does not occur in 20W or 2000W range. Autek replied this was "due to some transmitters" outputting spikes, but my Omni VI+ does not do this, so this could be a problem in my meter. Otherwise, the concept and execution on this product are excellent.
K0RS Rating: 1999-09-18
Great meter for a reasonable price Time Owned: unknown months.
I really like my WM-1. What a great value for the money it is. Very attractive, business-like appearance with large, clear meter faces. Automatic SWR computation is very convenient and eliminates zeroing a "relative power" scale for an accurate SWR reading. Autek only deals direct, so see their ads in the mags for their phone number. The meter comes with a 12 V power cube for the PEP function. Careful, center pin is negative if you like swap power cubes around. The only minor complaint I have is: Since there is 12 V to the meter, why not include meter lights?!? How about a 3 (or 4) KW version in the future?